Aguilucho cenizo

1. Bird name: Montagu’s Harrier,
Scientific name: Circus pygargus.

2. Appearance: Montagu’s Harrier is a slender bird with long wings and a long tail. Adult males feature a mostly gray colored body, with black wingtips. Their underwing showcases a mixture of grey, black, and white patches. The females and immature birds are predominantly brown with a white rump and barred tail. Males have yellow eyes while females and immature ones have brown eyes. They all have a hooked beak, perfect for eating prey.

3. Size: Male Montagu’s Harrier averages around 43 to 47cm (17 to 19inches) in length with a wingspan of 97 to 115cm (38 to 45 inches), while females are slightly larger, measuring 50 to 55cm (20 to 22 inches) in length with a wingspan of 110 to 125cm (43 to 49 inches). The weight for males ranges between 220-315g and 315-475g for females.

4. Habitat & Distribution: The Montagu’s Harrier can be found throughout a wide swath of the Old World continent, from the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa in the west, across temperate Europe and Asia to Mongolia in the east. They thrive in a variety of open habitats, including meadows, farmlands, wetlands, and desert environments.

5. Interesting Facts: An interesting fact about Montagu’s Harrier is its migratory behavior. It travels from Europe and Asia to Africa to escape the colder months. The harrier is a long-distance migrant, traveling distances between 3000 to 5000 kilometers each year. Another intriguing fact is its aerial display during mating, the male performs a ‘sky dance’ to impress the female.

6. Diet: Montagu’s Harrier primarily feeds on small mammals, birds and insects, using its keen senses to locate and swoop down on its prey.

7. Behavior & Sounds: This bird species has a typically serene flight, often gliding low over the ground in search of prey. It has a unique call that is usually a shrill “kee-kee-kee”, especially prominent during the breeding season.

8. Conservation Status: The IUCN Red List classifies Montagu’s Harrier as of Least Concern. However, it is under threat in some regions due to the intensification of farming practices.

9. Lifespan: The average lifespan of a Montagu’s Harrier is between 12 and 16 years both in the wild and in captivity.

10. Additional Notes: In French, Montagu’s Harrier is known as “Busard cendré”. These birds play a vital role in balancing ecosystems by controlling the population of rodents and insects. They are also known to be quite tolerant of human presence, often nesting in fields and farmlands. However, this makes them vulnerable to habitat destruction due to farming practices. An international effort is ongoing to monitor and protect their habitats, especially in Europe.